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Hybrid BYD Sealion 6 Arrives in South Africa – Pricing and Spec

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BYD has expanded its electrified footprint in South Africa this week with the arrival of the three models. Included in this trio is the Sealion 6 which will serve as a tech-laden plug-in hybrid SUV. Image: BYD Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Following its best sales year yet which made it the global leader in EV production, BYD has shown its hand for the South African market. Following an anonymous period since its arrival in Mzansi, it has now decided to go ahead with a complete product onslaught. Having started out as a battery producer first in 1995, then an automaker 10 years later, all of these forthcoming models to be offered will feature some form of electrification which is what the Chinese company believes is its forte. On display during is presentation ceremony were the Sealion 6, Sealion 7 and Shark bakkie. Of the three, the Sealion 6 will be the model that will go up against affordable SUVs. Under the sculpted exterior is BYD’s latest Supe...
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Top 12 Best Used Buys 2025: Budget Car – Suzuki Swift

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We’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best used car buys for 2025, taking into consideration fuel economy, long-term ownership satisfaction, depreciation, and more. The Swift has got our vote as the best-used budget car buy (<R220 000) for 2025. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Winner: Suzuki Swift The third-generation Suzuki Swift gets our nod in this highly budget-conscious category. Although a highly acclaimed all-new model arrived in late 2024, the previous generation went on sale in 2018 and contributed heavily to Suzuki’s position as one of the top-selling automotive brands in South Africa. The Swift is powered by Suzuki’s K12M 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, which produces a modest 61 kW and 113 N.m. It is paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. A combination of easygoing driving manners, a frugal engine that easily returns around 5.0 L/100 ...
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BYD Shark 6 Beaches in SA! Pricing and Specs Confirmed

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BYD has officially launched the Shark 6 bakkie to the South African market, and with it the plug-in hybrid has become the most potent double cab on offer in the new car market!  Image: BYD Looking for a new or used BYD? Find it here with CARmag! Say hello to South Africa’s most potent double cab bakkie yet! The Shark 6 has officially been launched into the country and joins the Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal in BYD’s local lineup. Welcomed to the Chinese automaker’s local lineup, the Shark 6 was ushered in alongside the Sealion 6 and Sealion 7 SUVs. The Shark 6 is a substantial beast , measuring 5 457 mm long, 1 971 mm wide, and 1 925 mm tall, with a 3 260 mm wheelbase. Built on BYD’s DMO platform, it combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors, delivering 321 kW of power and 650 N.m of torque. While the petrol engine primarily acts as a generator, it can directly drive the front wheels at higher speeds. BYD claims a 0-100 km/h sprint in a swift 5.7 seconds, which...
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Top 5 Vehicle Exporters — March 2025

In March 2025, South Africa’s vehicle exports saw growth for the first time in 10 months. Here are the top five vehicle exporters from the period… Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Despite the ongoing global trade uncertainties, South Africa’s March 2025 vehicle exports demonstrated strength in the complex economic landscape. Said naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa, “The rebound in export sales is testament to the resilience of South Africa’s automotive sector.” Being a critical contributor to local gross domestic product (GDP), the automotive manufacturing segment needs to retain vital global relationships in an ever-competitive market to ensure future longevity and increased job creation and growth. This has been difficult with political tensions and tariff announcements in the United States. Said naamsa, the Automotive Business Council of South Africa: “This export growth coincided with this week’s US presidential announcement threatening the future of South Af...
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BYD Creates 200 kW Turbo Boxer Engine for Luxury Yangwang U7 Sedan

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BYD has taken an unusual step forward with the Yangwang U7 by equipping its plug-in hybrid variant of the sedan with a fairly potent boxer engine that puts power out to the tune of 200 kW! Image: BYD Looking for a new or used BYD? Find it here with CARmag! While the automaker typically uses inline engines, this move has been done strategically to enhance performance and efficiency while maintaining the sedan’s aerodynamic design. The U7 serves as a flagship under BYD’s Yangwang brand, is available as a pure EV or a PHEV. The plug-in hybrid pairs the 2.0-litre boxer engine with four electric motors, delivering a total system output of 1 000 kW that is reported to complement the car’s advanced e4 platform. The horizontally opposed engine allows for a lower profile, helping achieve a sleek bonnet design and a drag coefficient of just 0.195. Image: BYD These characteristics result in improved handling and stability, characteristics often associated with performance vehicles. The...
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Top 12 Best Buys 2025 – CAR’s Favourites

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Included in the Top 12 Best Buys feature are some of the cool technology, designs and achievements the CAR team believes are worthy of praise. Find the full feature in the April 2025 issue of CAR Magazine! Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag! Drivetrain: Ferrari 296 GTB While a regulations-enforced pivot to all-electric propulsion may seem inevitable, for brands with Ferrari’s performance and motorsport heritage, immediate plans to lower overall emissions have focused on advancing hybrid drivetrain technology. The first Maranello-built product since the hallowed Dino to feature a V6 engine, the allure of the 296’s powertrain is its ability to self-charge its 7.45 kWh battery while on the move, allowing for a seamless transmission between high-revving internal combustion and stealth-like all-electric go-forward. Related: CAR Rookie Places Second Overall at GR Cup Round 1 Design: Renault 5 E-Tech The recent global focus on new energy propulsion has...
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Top 10 Best-Selling Car Brands — March 2025

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March 2025 signified a 12.5% surge in domestic new vehicle sales. Here are the top 10 best-selling car brands in South Africa from the month!  Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! March 2025 signified the continued growth of new-vehicle sales in South Africa, with naamsa , the Automotive Business Council of South Africa, saying: “March 2025 marked a pivotal month for South Africa’s automotive industry, demonstrating resilience amid economic pressures and delivering strong growth in both domestic new vehicle sales and exports.” In March 2025, domestic new-vehicle sales amounted to a total of 49 493 units, signifying an increase of 12.5%, or 5 504 units, over March 2024. Of the total reported industry sales, an estimated 42 953 units represented dealer sales, while sales to the vehicle rental industry, government and corporate fleets accounted for 7.3%, 3.5% and 2.5% of the overall figure, respectively. Leading the sales charge, the passenger-car market ac...
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